Millsboro Country Festival to return this fall

Coastal Point • Maria Counts: During last year’s Millsboro Country Festival, Joshua Johnson, 10, of Long Neck competes in a Redneck Challenge, throwing remotes.This September, the Millsboro Country Festival will return to bring fun and a little redneck flair to the town for a second year.

“We do live in a rural country setting, even though we do have shopping centers around us. Still, the heart of this area is a farming community,” said Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amy Simmons. “We just thought it was a perfect idea for this area.”

The festival is slated for Saturday, Sept. 20, at the W.B. Atkins Little League Field in town. Tickets will cost $5 for adults, while children may attend the event free of charge.

New this year, Fast Action Motor Sports Entertainment, out of Dover, will be on hand, offering attendees the chance to enjoy motor sports three different ways.

“They simulate NASCAR. They’re going to be bringing a car — an actual racecar you get in — and it simulates driving with professional drivers,” explained Simmons. “There’s also going to be a tire simulator, where you’re actually going to use the air wrench to take the tires on and off. They are also bringing in their racetrack that people can race the RC cars on.”

Simmons said that, throughout the day, there will be competitive laps for the RC car drivers, complete with elimination rounds and a championship race toward the end of the day, with trophies to be awarded. She noted that there is no extra charge to take part in the race activities.

Simmons said the races offer a unique opportunity to potential sponsors of the event.

“What’s really neat about all of these is any business that wants to help sponsor this, the company will put their logo on the simulator car, the rear fender of the tire change simulator,” she said. “For the RC cars, they put the logos on the cars, and after the races, they’ll mount the cars and give them to the businesses.”

Returning this year will be the Mountaire Chickin’ Pickin’ Contest and the Redneck Challenge, which includes throwing remotes through a TV and rolling tires.

“That was probably our busiest area last year. People kept trying to beat their best times,” she said. “We’ll have new redneck games this year, as well.”

For the kids, there will be a Kids’ Corner, pony rides, a rock-climbing wall, and more. Attendees can also grab a bite to eat during the daylong event, at various food vendors.

They may also enjoy live music throughout the day, including headlining band Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, the Bo Dickerson Band, Dirt Road Outlawz and bluegrass group Flatland Drive.

Simmons said the Chamber estimates approximately 3,000 people attended the event last year.

“We had a large amount of people from upstate and out-of-state last year. I think, overall, the people who attended were pleased with what we had to offer. It stayed true to what we wanted — a family event where you can bring any age and there’ll be something for everyone to do.”

She said the Chamber hopes to show area visitors there are great things to do throughout Sussex County, not just along its coastline.

“We want people from out-of-state to realize there are things west of the beach area. People could plan a weekend around visiting a lot different places in the fall.”

She added that she hopes this year’s event will be bigger and better, and enjoyed by all.

“For anybody who was here last year, please tell your friends, your family. We think it’s going to be just as big, if not bigger, this year. We want people to come out and have a great day.”

For sponsorship or volunteer information, contact the Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce at (302) 934-6777 or email info@millsborochamber.com.